Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Giveaway: Reality is Broken

In combination with the guest review I hosted of Reality is Broken I have the opportunity to give away a copy of this interesting sounding book.
The summary of the book from Goodreads is:
More than 174 million Americans are gamers, and the average young person in the United States will spend ten thousand hours gaming by the age of twenty-one. According to world-renowned game designer Jane McGonigal, the reason for this mass exodus to virtual worlds is that videogames are increasingly fulfilling genuine human needs. In this groundbreaking exploration of the power and future of gaming, McGonigal reveals how we can use the lessons of game design to fix what is wrong with the real world.

Drawing on positive psychology, cognitive science, and sociology, Reality Is Broken uncovers how game designers have hit on core truths about what makes us happy and utilized these discoveries to astonishing effect in virtual environments. Videogames consistently provide the exhilarating rewards, stimulating challenges, and epic victories that are so often lacking in the real world. But why, McGonigal asks, should we use the power of games for escapist entertainment alone? Her research suggests that gamers are expert problem solvers and collaborators because they regularly cooperate with other players to overcome daunting virtual challenges, and she helped pioneer a fast-growing genre of games that aims to turn gameplay to socially positive ends.

In Reality Is Broken, she reveals how these new alternate reality games are already improving the quality of our daily lives, fighting social problems such as depression and obesity, and addressing vital twenty-first-century challenges-and she forecasts the thrilling possibilities that lie ahead. She introduces us to games like World Without Oil, a simulation designed to brainstorm-and therefore avert- the challenges of a worldwide oil shortage, and Evoke, a game commissioned by the World Bank Institute that sends players on missions to address issues from poverty to climate change.

McGonigal persuasively argues that those who continue to dismiss games will be at a major disadvantage in the coming years. Gamers, on the other hand, will be able to leverage the collaborative and motivational power of games in their own lives, communities, and businesses. Written for gamers and nongamers alike, Reality Is Broken shows us that the future will belong to those who can understand, design, and play games.
In order to enter to win a copy of Reality is Broken leave a comment letting me know if you play video games or not- I am curious to see if there are many readers that do! Make sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win, after which you will have 48 hours to claim the prize. You can have a second entry for being a follower, just make sure you leave a second comment or it won't be counted. This giveaway will run until February 14th 2011 at 11:59 MST and is open to Canada and the US, no PO boxes. Enjoy!

16 comments:

  1. I surely play video games..sumtimes

    GFC follower

    vidishamun at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I play video games off and on. I prefer puzzle type games, and I'm a huge board game fan.

    helpersarah2009@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I follow through GFC.

    helpersarah2009@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love video games. Granted it does take a back seat to reading. But I do enjoy cracking out a bit.

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. +1 GFC follower

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I play pc games~~

    snifflykitty@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. im not much of a gamer myself! Though a little bit of singstar or kinetic dance or rockband every now and then never hurt anyone haha.


    shewaitsforwhispers@ymail.com

    yay!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I rarely play video games, but would probably do it more if I actually had time! captainliss40(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't play video games - but both of my adult children do and one of them is a programmer. I'd be very interested in reading
    (or winning a copy of) Reality Is Broken - and I imagine both of them would be too.
    shetreadssoftly(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm a follower too.
    shetreadssoftly(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm a video game addict. Mainly PS2and my great little Nintendo DS. Loved games since I was a wee lil girl. :)
    simplyjessiey2 at aol dot com.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Um..YES I PLAY VIDEO GAMES! I am addicted. My fav is any type of Mario game, I've essentially played and won most of them (multiple times). I also play PC Games (namely The Sims 2 & 3 or Diner Dash and it's spin offs). And I started playing Nintendo DS (namely Professor Layton & the Curious Village)

    And somehow these PC games add to my life. Especially the ones about time management!!

    :)
    LMLewis83@gmail.com

    xo,
    Lah @ LazyGirl Reads

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have 2 adult sons who are obsessed with video games.

    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

    ReplyDelete
  14. I don't play often, but sometimes. My son loves them!

    GFC follower

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make my day!